Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-31
SOW SHE ruurEn rrtg nKrR "

Every woman who works for living,
from the shop" sewer, who earns her
seven pence day, 10 the swell slleswoman
who pockets her fourteen shillings week,
has snecr for the barmaid, and between
her and her autipode, the British matron,
there yawns gulf ~ wide that il is never
spanned unless by u sausage role anda
glass of pale sherry which the harmaid
putt on the counter with an agyravating
slam, and the matron pays in coppers for,
with contcmptuous snin.
There must he u superstition 10 the
effect that barmaids have no souls, for no
attempt is made by any religious body Ia
reach or to save them. Good men aud
good women scOur the slunis of London to
succor and reclaim the most degraded and
depraved Of women-women who were
bred, born and brought up in badness -
but no effort il made Ia protect ar save the
barmaid, who, nine times out Of ten,
started out in life % respectable girl and
one in ten remains ~ in her occupation.
The twenty five thousand women en-
ployei IN pouring liquor down the huge
throlt OF thirsty London are young and
goOd-looking. The iirst requisite demand
cd of the barmaid is that she shall hc prct-
ty, and the second that she shall not br
under sixteen nor over thirty, though
many publicans aud sinnrrs draw the line
at twenty five years OF age. Her popular
name il Polly, Polly, n n rule, has n
skin wholesome in it's pink and whitcncss,
aud not ayersc tO little dimples. A thick
crop of curly hair is cut close to her
head, and her eyes, be they black or blue,
are sure t0 bc fine. polly's poorest feature
IN her mouth, for IL In coarsely cut, and
only the re1incss Of her lips and her splcn
did teeth makes one forgive the glimpse oi
her gums when she laught A black dress,
white collar and a cOIucttish apron
gives an air of refine mcnt and ncatnec, not
always native.
II is taken for granted that Polly must
be light Of foot and def of hand. She
must I've honest in money matters aud
good tempered. Above all, she must not
e sqcamish. To the glded youth Of
Great Britain the bar maid II special Joy;
creation for his benefit, and he IL quick
10 pick out the pretticst one behind the
bar There she is, chained 10 her place NJ
securely as il to "A log lie can stare at her
~ long and ~ meaniBgly m hc likes. lie
ran say had words and she dare not re-
sent il, because he has ordered a brandy
and soda. Then he tells her q stale Joke,
or compliments her ~ the coarSest Of
terms, interlardod with frequent 'my
dears," " and she has tO smile and look "a ii
she liked il, and by and by she comes 10
like il, and that's where The mischief he
gins What tries Polly most. though, IL
TO hear two Of her patrons discussing with
much JUNCTION aud not :. littIr profanity,
her good points, " exactly as II sbs were
horse, and deaf at that A. she stands be-
hind the long white counter, or bar, Of
marble, with itS shining pumps, it's pyIa-
mds Of sweets, fruits, cakes and ElDd.
wiches-ro-y, tidy and alert, handing over
hard boiled eRcS, buns. cheese, cakes, cold
sausages aud sliced ham, she il not an un-
pleasing picture, and one always 10 DO
found at the railway reffeshmsnt rooms
and better cla~ Of public bon-cs, pastry
cooks and theatre cafes.